Matt Peralta 25-1
JOCELYN PRESCOD/PRESCOD MEDIA
3
Winner Kean Kean 6-5,0-0 CVC
2
New Jersey City NJCU 2-5,0-0 Skyline
Winner
Kean Kean
6-5,0-0 CVC
3
Final
2
New Jersey City NJCU
2-5,0-0 Skyline
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Kean Kean 25 25 18 22 15 (3)
New Jersey City NJCU 17 18 25 25 13 (2)

Next Match:

at Saint Elizabeth University

2/12/2025 | 7:00 PM

Next Match

Full Schedule
Feb. 12 (Wed) / 7:00 PM
at Saint Elizabeth University
History

Game Recap: Men's Volleyball | | Contact: Tom Krychkowski; Assistant Athletic Director for Communications & Marketing

Men's Volleyball Drops Five-Set Thriller to Kean, 3-2

JERSEY CITY, NJ - In a marathon match that featured multiple momentum swings between the Cougars of Kean University and the Gothic Knights of New Jersey City University, it was Kean who outlasted NJCU, 3-2 (25-18, 25-17, 25-18, 25-22, 15-13). The loss against Kean at the John J. Moore Athletics & Fitness Center is the first since 2021 when they lost, 3-0. Tonight's five-set match is just the third five-set match between the two squads with all three results going to the Cougars. 

NJCU (2-5) edged Kean with a .271 team hit percentage in the five-set thriller. Alex Casais (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) paced the team with a season-high 45 assists while Amaru Perales (Harrison, N.J./Harrison) and Matt Peralta (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) tallied 12 kills each. Defensively, Anthony Matute (Passaic, N.J./Passaic Charter) recorded 10 digs as Perales picked up three blocks. Kean (6-5) was led offensively by Chris Mitchell with 22 kills and Brandon Millias' 50 assists. 

Kean quickly took a 10-6 lead to start the match before the Gothic Knight climbed back in and knotted it at 11 behind a pair of kills by Justin Walker (Paterson, N.J./Paterson Charter). Kean regained the lead, thanks to a 6-1 run, and put them ahead 17-12. That run put the Gothic Knights on their heels as they would fall farther behind, 21-14. A kill by Nate Aguilar (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) followed by an ace from Peralta nearly sparked a run for the Gothic Knights, however, that was quickly dispersed by Kean as they closed out the set on a 4-1 run. 

The second set played out similarly to the first with Kean jumping out ahead early on, 10-5. NJCU benefited from a pair of errors, bringing them within striking distance, 12-9, but once again, Kean used a run to create separation. NJCU continued to battle and eventually cut the lead down to five, 20-15, behind a kill from Casais. Kean, unaffected by the quick momentum swing, registered the final three points they needed to close out the set and take a 2-0 lead in the match. 

Facing a 2-0 deficit, NJCU came alive in the third set. The Gothic Knights had their most prolific hitting mark of the night in the third set, hitting .393 as a team. This time it was NJCU who jumped out in front, 12-7, before expanding its lead to 19-13. Peralta and Marcus Pardasie (Paramus, N.J./Cresskill) book ended a 4-0 run for the Gothic Knights, giving them a 23-15 lead. Kean responded with two straight points before NJCU closed it out with kills from Aguilar and Perales. 

After opening the fourth set with the lead, Kean used a 4-0 run to swipe the lead from the Gothic Knights. NJCU regained its focus and stole the lead back from Kean before each team began to match each other offensively, ping-ponging the score back and forth. The Gothic Knights finally broke the deadlock and used kills by Perales, Peralta, and Pardasie to take a 21-17 lead. Kean came within one point of tying the game up before Mike McGehee (Avondale, Ariz./Agua Fria) slammed the ball to the floor followed by an attacking error to send the match into its fifth and final set. 

A fifth set has only happened three times in this match up, all-time, with the most recent five-set thriller coming on January 28, 2012, here at the John J. Morre Athletics & Fitness Center. NJCU showed poise to start the set, forcing Kean to call an early timeout. The timeout settled Kean as they clawed back into the set and tied it at 10 on a kill from Aidan Flinn. NJCU's offense had lost all of its momentum at this point as Kean tallied five points with NJCU tallying just one kill during the final stretch. 

Up Next:
The Gothic Knights return to action on Wednesday, February 12 when they hit the road to take on Saint Elizabeth University at 7:00 pm. 

For the latest news, updates, and information on New Jersey City University sports, visit njcugothicknights.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Gothic Knights news by following NJCU Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
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Players Mentioned

Mike McGehee

#23 Mike McGehee

OH
6' 4"
Junior
Nate Aguilar

#21 Nate Aguilar

MB
6' 3"
Senior
Alex Casais

#22 Alex Casais

S
6' 5"
Junior
Marcus Pardasie

#10 Marcus Pardasie

OH
6' 0"
Sophomore
Amaru Perales

#20 Amaru Perales

MB
6' 6"
Junior
Justin Walker

#1 Justin Walker

OPP
6' 1"
Freshman
Anthony Matute

#4 Anthony Matute

L
5' 11"
Freshman
Matt Peralta

#6 Matt Peralta

OH
6' 2"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Mike McGehee

#23 Mike McGehee

6' 4"
Junior
OH
Nate Aguilar

#21 Nate Aguilar

6' 3"
Senior
MB
Alex Casais

#22 Alex Casais

6' 5"
Junior
S
Marcus Pardasie

#10 Marcus Pardasie

6' 0"
Sophomore
OH
Amaru Perales

#20 Amaru Perales

6' 6"
Junior
MB
Justin Walker

#1 Justin Walker

6' 1"
Freshman
OPP
Anthony Matute

#4 Anthony Matute

5' 11"
Freshman
L
Matt Peralta

#6 Matt Peralta

6' 2"
Freshman
OH